Diabetes Awareness Month: How to Look After Your Feet

November is a good time to talk about something that can be easy to overlook when you’re living with diabetes: your feet. With World Diabetes Day on 14 November, we’re sharing the changes to watch for and the everyday habits that can help protect your foot health.

The key thing to know: Diabetes can affect the nerves and circulation in your feet. You may not notice a small injury, and wounds can take longer to heal. Changes in sensation can also mean that excessive pressure goes unnoticed, increasing the risk of skin damage. Daily checks, well-fitting shoes and regular foot assessments can help you spot problems early.

Why does diabetes affect your feet?

Over time, high blood glucose levels can damage the nerves and blood vessels in your feet. Nerve damage, known as diabetic neuropathy, can reduce sensation. This means you may not feel pain, friction or excessive pressure, even when damage is occurring beneath the skin. Poor circulation can make it harder for this damage or other cuts and sores to heal.

Areas of increased pressure, particularly beneath the ball of the foot, around the toes and under the heel, can lead to hard skin (callus). If this pressure continues, the underlying tissue may become damaged, sometimes resulting in an ulcer without the patient experiencing any pain.

Together, these changes increase the risk of infection and foot ulcers. But foot problems are not inevitable. Knowing what’s normal for your feet makes it easier to notice when something changes.

What are the early warning signs of diabetes-related foot problems?

Some foot problems develop without much pain. Look out for:

Tingling, burning or numbness: new sensations or reduced feeling in your feet.
Cuts, cracks, blisters or sores: particularly if the skin is broken or healing slowly.
Dry skin, corns or calluses: especially where shoes are rubbing or pressure is building.
Changes in colour or temperature: such as unusual redness, darkening, paleness, warmth or coldness.
Swelling or changes in shape: including a foot that suddenly looks different or feels tighter in your shoe.
Bleeding beneath hard skin: dark or blood-stained callus can indicate underlying tissue damage and should be assessed promptly.

An important warning: A foot that becomes unusually warm, red or swollen, particularly if you have reduced sensation, may be a sign of a serious condition such as Charcot foot. This requires urgent assessment, even if you have no pain.

When to seek help: If you have diabetes and develop a new wound, blister, unexplained swelling, redness, warmth or a change in foot shape or colour, seek urgent assessment, ideally the same day, through your diabetes foot team, GP or NHS 111. Do not wait for a routine podiatry appointment.

A foot that suddenly becomes very cold, pale or blue needs emergency assessment. If you are seriously unwell with signs of infection, call 999 or attend A&E.

How can you care for your feet every day?

You don’t need an elaborate routine. A few small habits can make a difference:

Check your feet daily. Look at the soles, heels and between your toes. Use a mirror or ask someone to help if needed.
Wash and dry gently. Use lukewarm water, check the temperature first with your elbow or a thermometer if your foot sensation is reduced, and dry carefully between your toes.
Moisturise dry skin. Apply a suitable foot cream to dry areas, but not between your toes or onto broken skin.
Wear comfortable, well-fitting shoes. Check inside them for anything that could rub, and avoid walking barefoot, including indoors.
Leave corns and hard skin to a professional. Avoid blades and over-the-counter corn plasters, which can damage your skin.
Keep your diabetes foot checks. Your NHS diabetes team or your local podiatrist will advise how often you need them. If something changes, don’t wait until the next appointment.
Pay attention to pressure points. Repeated redness, rubbing or hard skin in the same area may indicate that your footwear or the way you walk is placing excessive pressure on that part of your foot.

How can a podiatrist help if you have diabetes?

Podiatry is about much more than toenails. A podiatrist can assess your skin and nails, check sensation and circulation where appropriate, identify pressure points, provide suitable foot care and advise on footwear and prevention.

For some patients, a biomechanical assessment can also be valuable. The way your feet function when standing and walking can influence how pressure is distributed across the soles of your feet.

Where appropriate, specialist insoles or custom-made orthotics may help redistribute pressure away from vulnerable areas, particularly where there is a history of recurring callus, structural changes or excessive loading.

However, patients with an active diabetic foot ulcer or significant foot complications may require specialist offloading devices and care through a multidisciplinary diabetic foot service.

If a more serious concern is found, we can help you access specialist care.

At Perfect Skin Solutions, our podiatry team aims to make foot care advice clear, personal and practical. A routine private podiatry appointment supports your care but does not replace NHS diabetes foot screening or urgent assessment of a new problem.

Expert insight: Nishal Patel
BSc (Hons) Podiatry | HCPC Registered Podiatrist

“One of the biggest misconceptions I see with diabetic foot care is that if your feet don’t hurt, everything must be fine. Unfortunately, that’s not always the case. Having worked with diabetic patients for over 25 years, I’ve seen how early intervention and understanding the pressures our feet are under can prevent serious complications. My aim is always to keep people comfortable, mobile and confident on their feet.”

Frequently asked questions about diabetes foot care

Can you have a diabetes-related foot problem without pain?
Yes. Nerve damage can reduce feeling, so a blister, cut or other problem may not hurt. This is why a daily visual check matters.

How often should you have a diabetes foot check?
In the UK, adults with diabetes are generally offered an annual foot assessment, although people assessed as low risk may be offered screening every two years in some NHS services, depending on local arrangements. People at moderate or high risk require more frequent assessment. Your diabetes team will advise on the appropriate schedule for you.

Should you see a podiatrist even if your feet feel fine?
A podiatrist can offer preventative advice and help with skin, nail or footwear concerns. Regular assessments can help identify developing pressure points, changes in foot function or reduced sensation before they cause noticeable symptoms. If you notice a new injury or sudden change, seek urgent medical advice rather than booking a routine appointment.

A small daily habit can go a long way

Diabetes Awareness Month is a reminder that good foot care starts with noticing the small things. Whether you have recently been diagnosed or have lived with diabetes for years, you deserve clear advice and support without judgement.

Taking a few minutes each day to check your feet, choosing appropriate footwear and seeking advice early can help prevent small concerns from developing into more serious problems.

Need advice on routine foot care? Contact us to arrange a podiatry appointment and talk through your concerns.

Nishal, Podiatrist/Chiropodist – (BSc(Hons) MChS (HCPC registered)